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Stith Thompson Motif Index
About this index and how to read it
Stith Thompson's Motif-Index of Folk-Literature classifies recurring narrative elements in folktales, myths, legends, ballads and related traditional narratives. Each entry below gives Thompson's motif reference and the description recorded in the index.
The index is large, so this browser displays 250 entries per page. You can search by motif reference or by words in the description, restrict the results to one of Thompson's main letter categories, and click motif references mentioned inside descriptions to follow cross-references. Individual motif pages also show any ATU tale types whose concordance explicitly cites that Thompson reference.
All
A
Mythological Motifs
B
Animal Motifs
C
Motifs of Tabu
D
Magic
E
The Dead
F
Marvels
G
Ogres
H
Tests
J
The Wise and the Foolish
K
Deceptions
L
Reversals of Fortune
M
Ordaining the Future
N
Chance and Fate
P
Society
Q
Rewards and Punishments
R
Captives and Fugitives
S
Unnatural Cruelty
T
Sex
U
The Nature of Life
V
Religion
W
Traits of Character
X
Humor
Z
Miscellaneous Groups of Motifs
| Thompson reference ▲ | Description |
|---|---|
| K492 | Girl serves her father with piece of her own flesh in place of chicken. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 125 No. 1374B; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K492.1 | Woman serves beggar with coals instead of food. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K493 | Dupe betrayed by asking him ambiguous questions. They are phrased in such a way that he understands them differently from the way they are intended. Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 283. |
| K494 | Wolf announces dawn prematurely to collect debt. The contract is to be fulfilled at daybreak. The wolf imitates the cock and crows, but is caught. Cape Verde Islands: *Parsons MAFLS XV (1) 6 n. 1. |
| K495 | Trickster shams sickness so that partner does all the work. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K496 | Foxes persuade man to plant cooked plants. They eat them at night. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K498 | Persons deceived into eating meat in Lent, the meat being disguised as butter. (Cf. K499.2.1, K499.2.2.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| K499 | Additional cheats. |
| K499.1 | Trickster sells mother's wine to merchant without asking her permission. Mother saves part of wine because purchaser is dilatory in removing casks. Pierre Faifeu No. 35. |
| K499.2 | Object with a hollow as instrument of cheats. |
| K499.2.1 | Saint who desires broth containing no butter receives broth into which butter has been poured surreptitiously through hollow mixing-stick. (Cf. K498.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| K499.2.2 | Saint who desires pottage of nettles containing no milk receives pottage into which milk has been poured surreptitiously through pipe. The secret is revealed, and the saint blesses the cook's successors. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K499.3 | Old man cheats crocodile by playing on its ignorance of agriculture. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K499.4 | Trickster breaks cat of taste for milk by overheating its milk. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K499.5 | Embarrassing gift. Trickster unwilling to pay for burial fee of aged cow, gives cow to unwitting Brahmin as gift. Cow dies soon and Brahmin must pay. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K499.6 | God cheats birds by giving false description of tamarind fruit. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K499.7 | Gullible king gives large sums to minister for construction of imaginary weapon and then more to have it destroyed. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K499.8 | Trickster dupes rival by exchanging beds: receives his food. Overhears maiden tell rival she will bring food at night, waits until rival is asleep and carries him to another bed, takes his place, and is fed by maiden. Africa (Wute): Sieber 190. |
| K499.9 | Treacherous friend drinks out of other's flask to save the water in his own. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 186. |
| K499.10 | Fox pretends to go to work, but goes out to sleep. S. A. Indian (Chiriguano): Métraux RMLP XXXIII 175. |
| K500 | Escape from death or danger by deception. *Chauvin VIII 136 No. 132; Wienert FFC LVI 52 (ET 113—118); Irish myth: Cross; Missouri French: Carrière; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: DeVries's list Nos. 1—8. |
| K510 | Death order evaded. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K511 | Uriah letter changed. Falsified order of execution. A messenger is sent with a letter ordering the recipient to kill the bearer. On the way the letter is changed so that the bearer is honored. *Types 428, 930; *Aarne FFC XXIII 69ff., 91; *BP I 282; *Fb "brev" IV 61ab; *Chauvin VIII 143ff. Nos. 145ABC; *Cosquin études 143ff.; Gunkel Märchen im alten Testament (Tübingen, 1921) 132; *Boje 79; *Penzer I 52, II 113f., III 277ff.; Alphabet No. 593; *Dickson 235 n. 33; Tupper and Ogle Walter Map 271.—Icelandic: Hdwb. d. Märchens I 326 nn. 16-26, Herrmann Saxo II 262ff. I, *Boberg; Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 151 n. 2; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 828; Japanese: Ikeda; Africa: Frobenius Atlantis IV 290. |
| K511.1 | Death evaded by persuading executioner that another victim was ordered. (E.g., boy has been ordered to kill hare. Hare persuades the boy that the father said, "Kill the rooster for the hare.") Africa (Nyika): Bachmann ZsKS VI 84f., Meinhof Afrikanische Märchen 95ff. No. 18, (Namwanga): Dewar Chinamwanga Stories (Livingstonia, 1900) 57ff., (Kaffir): Alexander und Mohl Mitt. d. Sem. f. Orient. Sprachen VIII 15ff. No. 5. |
| K511.2 | Ogam inscription on shield orders that bearer (who does not know meaning) shall be killed. Poet (who recognizes the meaning) reports to king that inscription means a request for honorable treatment. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| K512 | Compassionate executioner. A servant charged with killing the hero (heroine) arranges the escape of the latter. Icelandic: *Boberg; English: Wells 96 (Chevalere Assigne); Irish: MacCulloch Celtic 74; Italian: Boccaccio Decameron II No. 9 (Lee 56), Basile Pentamerone II No. 6, III No. 2; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Eberhard FFC CXX 95 No. 53. |
| K512.0.1 | Compassionate executioners. Slaves charged with killing (drowning) the infant heroine are touched by her "laughing smile" and put her in a calfshed (hollow tree), where she is found by cowherds, who rear her. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| K512.0.2 | "Prince will soon want me back." Executioner persuaded to let hero go. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K512.1 | Compassionate executioner: bloody coat. A servant charged with killing the hero smears the latter's coat with the blood of an animal as proof of the execution and lets the hero escape. *Cox 475; *Boje 62, 66; Icelandic: *Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| K512.1.1 | Compassionate executioner: bloody knife (sword) from slain animal substitute. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K512.2 | Compassionate executioner: substituted heart. A servant charged with killing the hero (heroine) substitutes an animal, whose heart he takes to his master as proof of the execution. *Types 671, 709; *Böklen Sneewittchenstudien 79ff.; *BP I 450ff., 463; *Aarne FFC XXIII 57, MSFO XXV 181; *Prato RTP IV 178; Chauvin V 208 No. 120; *Cox 474; *Saintyves Perrault 68; Fb "hjaerte" I 631a, "lever" II 404b, "tunge" III 894a.—Icelandic: Boberg; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC No. 706C*; Missouri French: Carrière; French Canadian: Sister Marie Ursule; India: Thompson-Balys; Jewish: Neuman (S350); Chinese: Graham; Japanese: Ikeda; N. A. Indian (Shuswap): Teit JE II 730 No. 50; S. A. Indian (Quiche): Alexander Lat. Am. 172. |
| K512.2.0.1 | Compassionate executioner: substituted brains (other animal for helpful animal). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K512.2.0.2 | Eyes of animal substituted as proof for eyes of children. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K512.2.0.3 | Eyes, ears, fingers of corpse substituted for those demanded of victim. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K512.2.1 | Animal substituted for child served at meal. BP III 137 (Grimm No. 141); English: Wells 96 (Chevalere Assigne), Alphabet No. 593; Italian: Basile Pentamerone V No. 5; S. A. Indian (Yuracare): Métraux BBAE CXLIII (3) 503. |
| K512.2.2 | Compassionate executioner: substituted child. The servant charged with sending the hero to executioners sends his own child instead. *Boje 63 n. 1; Jewish: *Neuman; Japanese: Ikeda. |
| K512.2.2.1 | Executioner makes substitution when victim escapes. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K512.2.3 | Compassionate executioner: substituted puppet drowned. *Boje 66. |
| K512.2.3.1 | Compassionate executioner: substituted head (made of clay) as proof of execution. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K512.2.4 | Compassionate executioner: mutilation substituted for death. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K512.2.4.1 | Boy's sixth toe cut off by compassionate executioner as proof he had been killed. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K512.3 | Compassionate executioner: feigns to torture victim. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K512.4 | Compassionate executioner: sleeping potion supplied instead of poison. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| K513 | Bribed executioner releases culprit. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K514 | Disguise as girl to avoid execution. *Oesterley No. 156; *Herbert III 133 No. 117; Icelandic: Anssaga Bogsveigis (FAS II) 359; Greek: Roscher Lexikon s.v. "Achilleus"; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 313 n. 128; Africa (Ba Ronga): Einstein 260, (Zulu): Callaway 40. |
| K514.1 | Girl substituted for boy to avoid slaughter by father. Hindu: Keith 171. |
| K515 | Escape by hiding. |
| K515.1 | Children hidden to avoid their execution (death). Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: Hrуlfssaga Kraka 3, 22, Hálfdanarsaga Brönufуstra (FAS III) 565; Greek: Fox 155 (Zeus and Kronus), Grote I 6; Jewish: *Neuman; India: Thompson-Balys; Eskimo (West Hudson Bay): Boas BAM XV 189, (Kodiak): Golder JAFL XVI 28; Africa (Ekoi): Talbot 355, (Pangwe): Tessman 366, (Fang): Tessman 108; Jamaica: Beckwith MAFLS XVII 275 No. 88. |
| K515.2 | Girl escapes by hiding in huge harp. Icelandic: Völsunga saga ch. 45 (43), *Boberg. |
| K515.3 | Sleeping persons covered with oxhide and so saved. Icelandic: Ketils saga Haengs 118, Boberg. |
| K515.4 | Escape by hiding in kettle. Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 105. |
| K515.5 | Escape by hiding in rice-bin. Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 184. |
| K515.6 | Escape by hiding in the earth. Africa (Fang): Einstein 151. |
| K520 | Death escaped through disguise, shamming, or substitution. |
| K521 | Escape by disguise. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K521.1 | Escape by dressing in animal (bird, human) skin. *Types 311, 510B, 1137; *BP I 399ff., III 375 (incident B2); *Hackman Polyphemsage 160ff.; *Fb "hest" I 599b; English: Wells 20 (William of Palerne); Africa (Fang): Einstein 76, Trilles Proverbs 203. |
| K521.1.1 | Man sewed in animal's hide carried off by birds. Penzer I 141 n. 2; Frobenius Das Zeitalter des Sonnengottes (Berlin, 1904) I 199ff; Jewish: Grünbaum Neue Beiträge zur semitischen Sagenkunde (Leyden, 1893) 234f. |
| K521.1.2 | Escape by dressing in bear's skin. Þiðriks saga I 261—72 (cf. 339—40); Asbjørnsen and Moe No. 58 (type 590); Gonzenbach No. 68 and Köhler's notes. |
| K521.1.3 | Escape in monkey-skin. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K521.1.4 | Escape by putting on old woman's skin. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K521.2 | Change of bodily appearance so as to escape. |
| K521.2.1 | Disguise by shaving off beard so as to escape. *Chauvin VIII 136 No. 132. |
| K521.2.2 | Disguise by mutilation so as to escape. Ears cut off, eyes put out, etc. *Chauvin VIII 136 No. 132; Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 24 No. 2. |
| K521.2.3 | Disguise as king with mask in order to hide from enemy who has ruined warrior's face and torn his beard off. Icelandic: örvar-Odds saga 186—89, Boberg. |
| K521.2.4 | Disguise as farmer so as to escape. Chinese: Graham. |
| K521.2.5 | Disguise as carpenter so as to escape. Chinese: Graham. |
| K521.3 | Disguise by painting (covering with soot, etc.) so as to escape. Type 36; Spanish: Espinosa Jr. Nos. 1, 4, 5. |
| K521.3.1 | Covering self with clay so as to escape. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K521.4 | Clothes changed so as to escape. India: Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 8. |
| K521.4.1 | Disguise in clothes of other sex so as to escape. Africa (Wute): Sieber ZsES XII 188. |
| K521.4.1.1 | Girl escapes in male disguise. *Chauvin V 96 No. 31 n. 1; Boccaccio Decameron II No. 9 (Lee 54); Icelandic: Boberg; Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| K521.4.1.2 | Man in danger of life dressed by hostess as woman and set to baking. English: Child IV 151ff. |
| K521.4.1.3 | Man in danger of life dressed by hostess as woman and set to grinding corn. Icelandic: Hrуmundar saga Greipssonar 337, Boberg. |
| K521.4.1.4 | Man in danger of life takes his wife's place in the bed with her night-cap on. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| K521.4.2 | Disguise as musician in order to escape. Africa (Ila, Rhodesia): Smith and Dale II 396 No. 18. |
| K521.4.2.1 | Musician in danger puts on his musician's attire as if about to play; escapes. Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 868. |
| K521.4.3 | Escape in humble disguise. (Cap o' Rushes.) *Type 510B; *Cox Cinderella; *BP II 45; *Saintyves Contes de Perrault 187, 196ff.; Icelandic: *Boberg; Japanese: Ikeda; N. A. Indian: Thompson CColl II 385ff., (Ojibwa): Laidlaw Ontario Arch. Rep. (1918 reprint) 36. |
| K521.4.3.1 | Escape by disguising as a washerman. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K521.4.4 | Disguise as waiter in inn to escape. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K521.4.5 | Adulteress escapes prison disguised as an old woman. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| K521.4.6 | Escape by making sheaths of bark for fingers: hero leaves without awakening nymph wives who make him sleep with fingers in mouth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K521.5 | Escape in huge pumpkin shell. (Attempted.) India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K521.6 | Abbot escapes from his paramour's husband in disguise of priest. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| K521.7 | One animal escapes by shamming as another (jackal as goat). India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K521.8 | Goat escapes from jackal by being covered with flowers. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K521.9 | Women escape from enemy's camp disguised as ascetics. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K521.10 | Hare escapes lion by being bundled in brushwood. Africa (Dzalamo): Meinhof ZsES XI 281. |
| K521.11 | Hare and bride travel in pot to escape tiger, answer "Ruined pot" when challenged. Africa (Cameroon): Meinhof 102. |
| K522 | Escape by shamming death. *Type 33; *BP II 120, III 345; *Chauvin VIII 136 No. 132; Liebrecht Zur Volkskunde 112 No. 23; *Penzer V 79 n. 3; Icelandic: *Boberg; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 1013, 1019; Korean: Zong in-Sob 18 No. 9; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 106, *Dixon 191 n. 13; Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 384; Eskimo (Central): Boas RBAE VI 584, (Greenland): Rasmussen III 75; Africa (Yoruba): Ellis 273 No. 6, (Basuto): Jacottet 120 No. 27, (Benga): Nassau 228 No. 34, (Bushman): Bleek and Lloyd 175, (Fang): Trilles 205. |
| K522.0.1 | Death feigned to escape unwelcome marriage. (Cf. K523.0.1.) *Chauvin V 134 No. 63; *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. XXI 284; Child II 355—367, III 517, IV 482ff., V 234a, 296b; *Wesselski Märchen 198; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 857*; Estonian: Aarne FFC XXV No. 885*; Russian: Andrejev No. 885*; Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| K522.1 | Escape by shamming death: blood and brains. The trickster covers himself with paint (or the like) so that he will be thought to have bled to death (or with milk so that it will be thought that his brains have been knocked out). *Type 3; Dh IV 243; Krohn JSFO VI 55ff.; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 329 n 191a; Africa (Kaffir): Kidd 242 No. 9. |
| K522.1.1 | Woman covers fleeing man with placenta of goat and with blood to convince pursuers she has just given birth and thus prevents their capturing him. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K522.2 | Ogre carries sham-dead man. "He smells already." Type 1139; cf. Indonesian: Coster-Wijsman 52 Nos. 77, 78. |
| K522.3 | Death feigned to escape from husband's death plot. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K522.4 | Captive parrots in net play dead and are thrown out: escape. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K522.4.1 | Trout pretends to be dead. Fisherman ignores him. Bødker Exempler 283 No. 28; Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| K522.5 | Escape by shammed burial. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| K522.6 | Escape by shammed drowning; wrecked boat or coffin lands. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| K522.7 | Sham murder: trickster attacked by angry mother causes her to spear ox guts and believe she has murdered him. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K522.8 | Escape by shammed hanging. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| K523 | Escape by shamming illness. Maori: Clark 167; Africa (Zulu): Callaway 78, (Angola): Chatelain 99 No. 6. |
| K523.0.1 | Illness (madness, dumbness, etc.) feigned to escape unwelcome marriage. (Cf. K522.0.1, K523.1.) *Toldo Zs. f. Vksk. XV 365. |
| K523.0.1.1 | Illness feigned to escape rendezvous with undesired mistress. Heptameron No. 63. |
| K523.0.2 | Illness feigned to escape unwelcome meeting. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| K523.1 | Escape by shamming madness. (Cf. K523.0.1.) Malone PMLA XLIII 400; Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 258ff., *Boberg; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K523.2 | Escape by shamming leprosy. *Chauvin VIII 136 No. 132. |
| K525 | Escape by use of substituted object. The object is attacked rather than the intended victim. *Types 160*, 311; *BP I 398ff.; Irish myth: *Cross; Missouri French: Carrière, Italian Novella: Rotunda; Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus I 8 n. 2 (Zeus and Kronus); India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 37, Dixon 200, *201 n. 38; Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 51; Chinese: Graham; Eskimo (Greenland): Rasmussen III 65, Rink 107, (West Hudson Bay): Boas BAM XV 194; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 355 n. 282; Africa (Basuto): Jacottet 226 No. 33. |
| K525.1 | Substituted object left in bed while intended victim escapes. *Type 1115; *BP I 148ff., 164; U.S.: Baughman; Icelandic: FSS 38, Boberg; Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges (K437.1.1.); French Canadian: Barbeau JAFL XXIX 22; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 116 No. 970; Italian: Basile Pentamerone III No. 4, Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 207; Chinese: Graham; Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 444; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (T-G. 3115); Australia: Dixon 279; Tahiti: ibid. 63; Africa (Kaffir): Theal 125, (Ekoi): Talbot 249; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Nights 3 No. 1. |
| K525.1.1 | Woman puts figures of paramour and herself in bed. Husband attacks them. Woman uses it as a lesson to "reform" husband. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K525.1.2 | Bride substitutes wooden picture while she herself escapes sleeping groom. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| K525.1.3 | In order to save child from death, maid substitutes block dressed to resemble it. Enemy strikes block. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| K525.2 | Man steps aside so that only his shadow is caught. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 47 No. 325A*. |
| K525.3 | Object substituted for murdered person so as to allay suspicion. Africa (Venda): Stayt The Bavenda (London, 1931) 343f. No. 6. |
| K525.4 | Animal jumps out of skin so that only skin is caught. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| K525.5 | Man leaves mantle so that only mantle is hit. Icelandic: *Boberg. |
| K525.6 | Escape, leaving dog as substitute. Icelandic: Herrmann Saxo II 569—70. |
| K525.6.1 | Dog buried instead of foster son, who is falsely reported killed so that he can safely be taken away. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| K525.7 | Girl escapes from ogress by substituting pig. Chinese: Graham. |
| K525.8 | Destructive magic object tried out on something inanimate. |
| K525.8.1 | Destructive magic belt tried on tree. Destroys tree. Hdwb. d. Märchens s.v. "gürtel". |
| K525.9 | Cock's blood given spirits instead of human blood. Philippine (Tinguian): Cole 174. |
| K525.10 | Escape by leaving behind false images made of spittle. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 176. |
| K526 | Captor's bag filled with animals or objects while captives escape. *Type 327C; Icelandic: Sveinsson FFC LXXXIII No. 327C; Norwegian: Christiansen Norske Eventyr 44; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 44 No. 311B*; India: *Thompson-Balys; Koryak: Jochelson JE VI 181, 212; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 351 n. 268a; S. A. Indian (Aymara): Tschapik BBAE CXLIII (1) 571; Africa (Kaffir): Theal 120, 136, (Basuto): Jacottet 66 No. 10, (Zulu): Callaway 6, 74, 345, (Congo): Grenfell 824; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Nights 386 No. 70, (Virginia): Parsons JAFL XXXV 262. |
| K527 | Escape by substituting another person in place of the intended victim. *Type 953; Irish myth: *Cross; Icelandic: *Boberg; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; India: *Thompson-Balys; Korean: Zong in-Sob 126 No. 60; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 149; Tuamotu: Stimson MS (z-G. 3/1314); Africa (Benga): Nassau 89ff. No. 4, (Ila, Rhodesia): Smith and Dale II 382 No. 2, (Ekoi): Talbot 33, (Wute): Sieber ZsES XII 188, (Fang): Tessman 46, (Bankon): Ittman, ZsES XVII 9; West Indies: Flowers 512. |
| K527.1 | Poisoned food (drink) fed to animal instead of to intended victim. Animal perishes. *Boje 72ff.; India: *Thompson-Balys; Easter Island: Métraux Ethnology 365; Africa (Nyang): Ittman 58. |
| K527.2 | Escape by substituting brother for intended victim, namely self. Pierre Faifeu No. 1; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K527.3 | Exchange of clothes between master and his servant. Lithuanian: Balys Historical. |
| K527.4 | Two rival parties of fifteen each on ship. When food is exhausted, it is agreed that half the company be thrown overboard, "every ninth man as they stood to be selected." Clever sister of leader of one party arranges men so that enemies are chosen and so drowned. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| K527.5 | Man calls animal by his son's name so he can sacrifice it instead of his son. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| K528 | Substitute in ordeal. An ordeal (usually dangerous) is escaped by deceptively providing a substitute. English: Hibbard 71, Wells 158 (Amis and Amiloun); Icelandic: Göngu Hrуlfs saga 274ff.; N. A. Indian (Arapaho): Dorsey and Kroeber FM V 74 No. 37; West Indies: Flowers 512. |
| K528.1 | Substitute smoker. The hero is compelled to smoke a fatal pipe, but the helpful insect which he carries on his head smokes the pipe for him. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 330 n. 191c. |
| K528.2 | Escape by substituting self for another condemned to die. Holy man substitutes self for deacon held by heathen. Spanish Exempla: Keller. |
| K528.3 | Two wicked men put to a fiery test ask for a third (pious) man to be tested together with them. Jewish: *Neuman. |
| K531 | Escape from battle by magic invisibility. Irish: MacCulloch Celtic 66, *Cross; Italian Novella: *Rotunda; Greek: Fox 127 (Paris). |
| K532 | Escape under mantle of invisibility. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| K532.1 | Escape in mist of invisibility. Irish myth: *Cross. |
| K532.2 | Thief makes magic storm in order to escape. N. A. Indian (California): Gayton and Newman 61; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K533 | Escape by successive disguises. Chinese: Graham. |
| K533.1 | Fugitive disguises successively in different forms and deceives pursuer into self-injury. Chinese: Graham. |
| K534 | Escape by reversing shoes (boat). |
| K534.1 | Escape by reversing horse's (ox's) shoes. *Fb "sko" III 288b, "gе" IV 194b, "hestesko" IV 214a; Laport FFC LXXXIV 49; Köhler-Bolte II 381; *Child III 476n., 479f., 487, 489; *Babler Sudetendeutsche Zs. f. Vksk. VII (1934) 77; England: Baughman; Icelandic: *Boberg; Greek: *Frazer Apollodorus II 8 n. 1; Swiss: Jegerlehner Oberwallis 324 No. 155; Chinese: Chavannes 500 Contes II 407; Africa: Frobenius Atlantis VII 6. |
| K534.2 | Escape by reversing snowshoes. U.S.: Baughman. |
| K534.3 | Hero walks backward to leave misleading trail. Africa (Fang): Trilles 139. |
| K534.4 | Escape by rowing boat stern foremost. Irish myth: Cross (K534.1). |
| K536 | Captors deceived into believing captive is planning to stay with them: vigilance relaxed. Captured general orders heavy boxes taken into the temple. These are thought to be gold and it is concluded that he will not try to leave. He escapes. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 527. |
| K536.1 | Girl escapes by making man captor think preparation is being made for wedding. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K538 | Princess cuts hair to escape captor who holds her hair in hand while sleeping with her. Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 871*; Russian: Andrejev No. 871*. |
| K540 | Escape by overawing captor. |
| K541 | Escape by reporting oneself invulnerable and overawing captor. *Chauvin VIII 136 No. 132; India: Thompson-Balys; West Indies: Flowers 513f.; Philippine (Tinguian): *Cole 195. |
| K542 | Escape by falsely reporting one's ability to escape. "I should be caught if there were not an escape at the back." When the captors run to the rear, the captive escapes. Type 66**. |
| K543 | Biting the foot. Fox to bear, who is biting his foot: "You are biting the tree root." Bear lets loose. *Type 5; *BP II 117 n. 2; Krohn Bär (Wolf) und Fuchs (JSFO VI) 62ff.; *Fb "bjørn" IV 43b; India: *Thompson-Balys; Indonesia, Malay Peninsula: *Dixon 190 n. 11, *DeVries's list No. 1; S. A. Indian (Brazil): Hartt Amazonian Tortoise Myths (Rio de Janeiro, 1875) 29; Africa: Werner African 296, 299, (Kaffir): Theal 187, (Mpongwe): Nassau 17 No. 1, 45 No. 6, (Zulu): Callaway 6, (Ila, Rhodesia): Smith and Dale II 395 No. 18, (Nakami): FL X 386; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Remus 58 No. 12; West Indies: Flowers 514; Bahama: Parsons MAFLS XIII 103. |
| K543.1 | Fox to crocodile who has caught him by the tongue: "Those are the dirty clothes I've been washing!" She lets go. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K544 | Escape by alleged possession of external soul. Monkey caught for his heart (as remedy) makes his captor believe that he has left his heart at home. *Dh IV 1ff.; *Chauvin II 99 No. 57; *Penzer V 127 n. 1; Bødker Exempler 298 No. 62; Spanish Exempla: Keller; Jewish: Neuman; India: *Thompson-Balys; Buddhist myth: Malalasekera II 852; Japanese: Ikeda; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 3, Dixon 193; Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 374 No. 56; Africa (Zanzibar): Bateman 17 No. 1. |
| K545 | Escape by falsely reporting approach of rescuers. Philippine: Fansler MAFLS XII 276. |
| K546 | Pope escapes captivity and death by dressing in full regalia and overawing captor. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K547 | Escape by frightening would-be captors. (Cf. K1710.) Pierre Faifeu No. 27. |
| K547.1 | "Get into my belly." The wee cock, lost in the woods, orders the fox, the bear, and the wolf to get into his belly. Overawed, the beasts make their apologies promising never to annoy him again. The bear even carries the cock home. (Cf. K1715.7.) Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 2007*. |
| K547.2 | Man takes off wig, takes out false teeth, takes off wooden leg, overawes Indians. U.S.: *Baughman. |
| K547.3 | Man hides in hollow log, fires rifle while Indians are sitting on the log, scares them away. U.S.: Baughman. |
| K547.4 | Jackal escapes by telling farmer he is jackal king and will call upon his subjects. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K547.5 | Ferocious animal (ogre) misunderstands victim's remark: flees in fright. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K547.6 | Ogre frightened away by beating tom-tom. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K547.7 | Goat trembles so hard from fear of tiger that shaking of his beard frightens tiger away. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K547.8 | Shepherd threatened by tiger says he will report matter to ass: tiger flees. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K547.9 | Threatening tiger challenged to strength contest. Beguiled into holding wood for plow and is injured. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K547.10 | Queen hiding king disguised as child tells ogress she has borne child with moustache: ogress frightened. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K547.11 | Hero threatens tiger with plowshare and leads him into village. Frightens villagers. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K547.12 | Escape by frightening tiger into thinking goat in cave is the ghost of his father. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K547.13 | Witch frightened by seeing victim cleave boulder with one blow of sword. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K547.14 | Trickster claims to be holding up sky. Leopard, afraid to let sky fall, leaves him. Africa (Wute): Sieber ZsES XII 173. |
| K548 | Escape by making attacker believe there are many defenders. (Cf. K2368.) |
| K548.1 | Woman alone in house rolls cheeses down the stairs after calling names of men in the house. Attackers think the men of the house are rushing down the stairs. U.S.: Baughman. |
| K548.2 | Man convinces robbers that house is fully occupied by beating drums all over the house; they flee. Buddhist myth: Malalasekera I 574. |
| K548.3 | Sham calling to helpers frightens robbers away. Icelandic: Boberg. |
| K550 | Escape by false plea. A captive makes a request or proposes an action that permits him eventually to escape. *Type 122A; *BP II 207; India: Thompson-Balys; Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 246; N. A. Indian: *Thompson Tales 306 n. 109cc; West Indies: Flowers 515. |
| K550.1 | Escape by equivocal oath. (Cf. K475.) Irish myth: Cross. |
| K551 | Respite from death granted until particular act is performed. *Type 122A; U.S.: Baughman; West Indies: Flowers 515. |
| K551.1 | Respite from death granted until prayer is finished. It lasts till rescue comes. *Types 122A, 227, 332, 955, 1199; *BP I 381, 404ff., II 164; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K561.1.1 | Cat fails to be beguiled into releasing mouse. The mouse tells the cat a tale. The cat answers at last, "Even so, I eat you up." |
| K551.1.1 | Respite from death granted until confession is made. Herbert III 48, 78. |
| K551.1.2 | Respite from death until mass is said. Herbert III 84, 508; Chauvin II 191; Icelandic: Boberg. |
| K551.2 | Respite from death until prisoner has finished drinking his glass. It is left half finished. BP I 381. |
| K551.2.1 | Iguana persuades jackal to let him go so he can finish his drink. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K551.3 | Respite from death until victim has blown on a horn (three times). Rescuers come. *Types 592, 920; *BP II 501; *Wesselski Märchen 199; DeVries FFC LXXIII 41ff., 324; *Thien Motive 36f.; *Child V 483 s.v. "horn"; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K551.3.1 | Respite from death while one plays the fiddle. Rescue arrives. Type 592; *BP II 501. |
| K551.3.2 | Respite from death while captive plays music (whistles). Rescue arrives. *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 173; Wienert FFC LVI 52 (ET 113), 99 (ST 127); Halm Aesop No. 134. |
| K551.3.2.1 | Respite from death while one sings song. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K551.3.3 | Three cries allowed maiden about to be murdered. Rescue arrives. Child I 32ff., 41f., 47, 487b, V 207. |
| K551.3.4 | Wild boar given permission to squeal before wolf eats him. Rescue arrives. *Bolte Zs. f. Vksk. IX 87; *Pauli (ed. Bolte) No. 173; Rumanian: Schullerus FFC LXXVIII No. 91; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K551.3.5 | Respite from death while one plays the bagpipe. Rescued. Italian Novella: Rotunda. |
| K551.3.6 | Respite from death while victim dances. India: Thompson-Balys; Africa (Ndau): Curtis Songs and Tales from the Dark Continent (Boston, 1920) 45ff. |
| K551.3.6.1 | Girl to dance for robbers asks to bring her party (strong men in disguise) who overcome robbers. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K551.3.6.2 | Mare is allowed to dance before being killed; it dashes off to jungle with persecuted boy hidden in belly. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K551.3.6.3 | Men ordered to dance before being killed. Dance figure arranged so as to defeat captors. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K551.3.7 | Titmouse receives permission to sit on branch and sing before being sacrificed. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| K551.4 | Respite from death until toilet is made permits escape. Malone PMLA XLIII 410; Breton: Sébillot Incidents s.v. "toilette"; Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 116 No. 970; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K551.4.1 | Respite from death until clothes are changed. *Chauvin VI 72 No. 238. |
| K551.4.2 | Devil must wait for man to tie his stocking before the man comes into his possession. It remains untied. *Fb "hosebеnd" I 650, IV 221b. |
| K551.4.3 | Making modesty pay. Robber insists on disrobing woman before throwing her from precipice. She pleads to have him turn his face while she disrobes. She pushes him off. (Cf. K1645.) Italian Novella: Rotunda (K551.4.2). |
| K551.4.4 | Respite from death until hero bathes and drinks. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K551.4.5 | Escape by pretending to go to river and wash clothes. India: Thompson-Balys; Chinese: Graham. |
| K551.4.6 | Respite from death until mouth is washed; crow slain with arrow as he goes to wash mouth. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K551.4.7 | Escape by pretending to go for bath. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K551.4.8 | Escape by pretending to return for hair ribbon. N. A. Indian: *Thompson Star Husband 133. |
| K551.5 | Girl makes toilet and calls help. When she sees robber under her bed she pretends not to see him and combs her hair at the window. She says, "When I am married my husband will come home from the tavern and seize me by the hair and I shall cry: "Help!" Rescue comes. Type 959*; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 959B*; Russian: Andrejev No. 959*; Chinese: Graham. |
| K551.6 | Escape by asking to die on a horse. Jones PMLA XXIII 563. |
| K551.6.1 | Escape by asking to ride on sacred buffalo. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K551.7 | Captured animal asks respite while he gives war alarm. Indonesia: DeVries's list No. 2. |
| K551.8 | Wolf kept at door until children have been christened. He loses his feast. *Type 122A. |
| K551.9 | Let me live as long as this candle lasts. Man who has sold his soul to devil thus escapes. (Cf. G303.12.5.4.) Type 1184*; Irish: O'Suilleabhain 36, Beal XXI 313. |
| K551.10 | Escape by asking a last kiss. Uses the opportunity to attack adversary. Spanish: Boggs FFC XC 30 No. 69*. |
| K551.11 | Ten (five) year respite given captive while he undertakes to teach elephant (ass) to speak. Captive explains to friends that in that time the captor, the elephant (ass), or himself is likely to die. Italian Novella: *Rotunda. |
| K551.12 | Respite from death until muddy victim may dry self in sun. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K551.13 | Respite from death until one pays a last visit. India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K551.13.1 | Respite from death until visit is finished. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K551.14 | Respite from death until captive has taken six steps toward God. Takes prodigious ones and escapes. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K551.15 | Respite from death until prisoner is healed by magic object. Irish myth: Cross. |
| K551.16 | Woman escapes by ruse: must go to defecate. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges; India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K551.17 | Respite from death for drink of water. India: Thompson-Balys; Korean: Zong in-Sob 174 No. 75. |
| K551.17.1 | Kidnapped woman escapes by asking for drink of water. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K551.17.2 | Jackal persuades woman to untie his legs so that he may get a drink. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K551.18 | Respite from death granted until wolf reads horse's passport. Wolf kicked to death. (Cf. J1608.) Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| K551.19 | Respite from death granted while wolf counts hairs in horse's tail. Wolf kicked to death. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| K551.20 | Wolf is requested by tailor to be measured for suit of clothes; wolf beaten. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| K551.21 | Respite from death until minister shows king how to reap pearls. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K551.22 | Definite respite from death granted. |
| K551.22.1 | A year's time granted to settle affairs before death. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K551.22.2 | God grants man twenty years more of life provided he plays no tricks. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K551.22.3 | Crocodile grants boy five days respite from death. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K551.23 | Escape by false plea: jackal asks to be able to clasp tree before crocodile kills it. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K551.24 | Respite from death until hero climbs tree. He flies away in machine stored there. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K551.25 | Escape from threatened captivity by pretending to send for object for captor. Irish: Cross (K1231). |
| K551.26 | Turtle allowed to go to pool to pick flowers before death. Escapes. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K551.27 | Respite from death until victim can fall asleep. Chinese: Graham (K551.5). |
| K551.28 | Captors give captive respite in order to witness alleged marvel. Hawaii: Beckwith Myth 511. |
| K553 | "Wait till I get fat." Captured person (animal) persuades his captor to wait and fatten him before eating him. Wienert FFC LVI 52 (ET 117), 105 (ST 179); Halm Aesop No. 231; Spanish: Espinosa III 446; India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Zulu): Callaway 164; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Nights 366ff. No. 65 (variant); West Indies: Flowers 516. |
| K553.0.1 | "Wait till I am fat enough to race you." Hero to be eaten by cannibals when he is fattened enough to beat them in a race. He runs away. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K553.0.2 | Calf: "Wait till I grow up." India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K553.1 | "Let me catch you better game." Captured animal pretends to help captor bring more desirable victim. Escapes. Chauvin II 116 No. 94; India: *Thompson-Balys; Africa (Kaffir): Theal 188, (Basuto): Jacottet 40; American Negro (Georgia): Harris Nights 286 No. 48. |
| K553.1.1 | "Wait till men come to take me from trap, then eat them." India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K553.2 | Wait for the fat goat. Troll lets the first two goats pass on the bridge so that he may eat the biggest one. He is thrown in the water. Type 123*. |
| K553.2.1 | Dwarf persuaded to wait for ram. Lamb and ewe escape. Ram butts dwarf into river. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K553.3 | Ram promises to jump into wolf's belly. Gives him a hard knock. The stunned wolf thinks he has swallowed the ram. (Cf. K579.5.1.) Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 122E*. |
| K553.4 | Wolf is requested by horse to start eating from the rear; kicked to death. Cheremis: Sebeok-Nyerges. |
| K553.5 | "Soak me in the pond so that I will be juicy." India: *Thompson-Balys. |
| K553.6 | Too dirty to eat. Trickster, cornered by leopard, leaps into swamp, then says he is too dirty to eat. Leopard smells of him and agrees. Africa (Wute): Sieber ZsES XII 173. |
| K555 | Executioner kept busy or interested until rescue comes. Sometimes until he changes his mind. |
| K555.1 | Respite from death gained by long-drawn-out speech. India: Thompson-Balys. |
| K555.1.1 | Respite from death gained by tale of the preparation of flax. *BP I 222; Lithuanian: Balys Index No. 365A*, Legends Nos. 349, 360. |
| K555.1.2 | Respite from death gained by tale of the preparation of bread. *BP I 222; 331; Rumanian: Schullerus FFC LXXVIII No. 1199 I*. |
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